Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Sep. 2, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE SHOCKING, SWEET SPIRIT OF CHRIST ABOUT SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1-7

Text: Mark 7:7

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Introduction: Our Lord made an AMAZING statement when He said of some people that they worshipped HIM … in VAIN!

Liberals, modernists, and leftwingers accuse fundamentalists of not having “the sweet spirit of Christ.” Tonight I am going to bring the final in a series of messages on some things Jesus said that revealed just what kind of spirit He HAS. His spirit is no doubt sweet, but it is also sometimes SHOCKING. Our Lord can be stern, He can be sarcastic, and He can be “short” with people.

Tonight I want you to look at some of the things our Lord said and we will see

THE SHOCKING, SWEET SPIRIT OF CHRIST … AS HE SPOKE ABOUT SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER

Surely some of the things He said do test our faith, as He provoked us to pray, believing, in His name. However, there are some other statements which might seem to the average church goer to be even more shocking.

For instance,

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

I. PLAYING AT PRAYING DOESN’T PAY

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Someone needs to THUNDER the above words in the ears of many congregations during their times of prayer.

A. Praying is not poetry

Some people work on their prayers to make them as eloquent and grammatically correct as possible.
Vain repetitions are empty quotations of memorized material.

B. Praying is not preaching

1. Some people pray like they are talking to people rather than to God.
2. I have heard some preachers pray when I KNEW they had quit talking to God and started talking to their congregation. How would you feel if someone drifted away from you in the middle of a conversation?

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

II. PRETENSE IN PRAYER BRINGS PUNISHMENT

Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

A. We should not pray to impress people

People should be able to be edified and blessed by our praying, according to 1 Cor. 14:16-17, but our goal should not be to impress them with our ability to pray.

B. We should not pray to influence people

We should pray to influence or move GOD, that HE might move upon the people!
The implication in the above verses is that some religious figures pray for some people in order to get more money from them!

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

III. PRIVATE PETITIONS BRING THE POWER DOWN

Matthew 6:5-6 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

A. Public praying is often just proud praying

B. Private praying can be POWERFUL praying

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

IV. PROBLEM PEOPLE NEED PRAYER TOO

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

A. Pray for their salvation

Salvation just might make your worst enemies into your dearest friends!

B. Pray for your spirit

Ask God to help you not be bitter against them.

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

V. PRAYING PREPARES FOR PREDICAMENTS

Matthew 26:40-41 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

A. Prayer is watching

WATCH and pray?
Most of us think that praying should be done with our eyes closed.
The word, “watch,” has to do with ALERTNESS. Our main dangers are SPIRITUAL and INVISIBLE.
The best way to WATCH for these problems is in PRAYER.

B. Prayer is a weapon

The listing of the armor of God closes with a reminder to be “praying always.”
Satan trembles when he sees even the weakest Christian upon his knees!

IT MIGHT SHOCK SOME PEOPLE THAT THE SAVIOR SAID THAT

VI. PERSISTENT PRAYING IS PROFITABLE

Luke 11:5-10 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

A. Keep begging God!

B. Keep “bothering” God!

That sounds strange, but it is the teaching of our Lord!